Juan Carlos Mercado "Charlie" in center of photo as an Infantry Soldier somewhere in the back forty of Ft. Campbell, KY during a 12 mile road march.

Meet Juan Carlos Mercado "Charlie."

“Mercado Del Barrio” is Juan Carlos Mercado “Charlie.” Currently, he is a candidate for Congress in California’s 51st District, and he is extremely passionate about solving our nation’s immigration debacle. In addition, Charlie is the first immigrant to run for Congress while openly recognizing he entered the United States of America as an “undocumented” immigrant. While you digest that last statement, please entertain yourself with Charlie’s biography and body of work.Juan Carlos Mercado “Charlie” was born in Mexico in 1970. At the age of five, he found himself without parents and had no choice but to begin a life of child labor. As the lack of upward mobility and economic struggles mounted around him, he crossed the border into the United States (U.S.) as an undocumented immigrant. His life during his teenage years remained a tough one, but he continued to work as he attended school and learned the English language.At the age of nineteen, he was issued a work permit and enlisted into the U.S. Army. During his enlistment, he graduated from the Jungle Warfare Academy in Fort (Ft.) Sherman, Panama, and he earned the Combat Infantry Badge during service in Iraq. He then enrolled into the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) at San Diego State University (SDSU), where he climbed the ranks to Aztec Cadet Commander, first in his class, and ultimately received an active duty commission. As a Military Police Platoon Leader, during combat missions in Croatia and Bosnia Herzegovina, his biggest concern was the safety of his soldiers. He departed the Army with the rank of Captain, and an Honorable Discharge. Since 2007, he has worked as a Deputy Sheriff for the County of San Diego. It was during the execution of his duties as a Deputy where he became aware of the deportation of U.S. Veterans. He was in shock and immediately sought the aid of government officials to halt the deportation of U.S. Veterans, but he received zero support from our House of Representatives, the Senate, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.He had no choice but to run for political office and take care of this matter himself, and he became a candidate for Congress in California’s 51st District. Charlie will continue to fight until all the deportations end, and all U.S. Soldiers, U.S. Veterans, and their families are returned to America.Juan Carlos Mercado “Charlie” was born in Mexico, but it was hard to pinpoint the exact location. To this date, he has been unable to attain a birth certificate. His relatives from the City of Tijuana say, “You were born in Tijuana!” His relatives in the City of Mexicali say, “You were born in Mexicali!” And his relatives from other cities in Mexico swear he was born in their respective cities, and so far Charlie’s exact birth city remains a mystery. At the age of four, Charlie and his Mother “Hortencia” were abandoned by his Father. They then moved from Tijuana to Mexicali. It was tough going to say the least. Initially, they lived outside the city in a home with no running water, no city sewage system, and no electricity. Even under these extremely austere conditions, Charlie’s Mother managed to work and put food on the table, but it did not last. Five months after Charlie’s fifth birthday, his Mother passed away. Just like that, food on the table on a daily basis was no longer a reality. Charlie found himself Motherless and hungry. He had no choice but to enter the labor force. It was a fight for survival. At times, he found work in the fields. Sometimes he picked cotton, and other times he picked watermelons. By far, the watermelons were the hardest. As he could barely pick and carry one by himself. Outside of the harvest season, Charlie found work as a piñata maker.To help his Step-Grandfather make a living, he would accompany him and help push his concession cart along the dirt streets of the barrio. In the winter, the cart turned into sales for hot corn on the cob, and for sales of shaved ice flavored drinks in the hot Mexicali summers. It goes without saying, Charlie would also shout out the items for sale. For corn on the cob, it would be “Elotes!” For the shaved ice flavored drinks, it would be “Raspados!” In Spanish of course. Before Charlie’s teenage years, he was re-united with his Father “Raul” in the City of Tijuana. He was only eleven years old, and it was not an easy encounter. His Father was a tough man who only knew violence and vulgar street language as a means of discipline, and the slightest discomfort would set him off. Repeatedly, Charlie was the victim of his Father’s cruel and unorthodox mode of discipline. At the age of thirteen, Charlie entered the United States and arrived in the City of San Diego as an undocumented immigrant. He spoke no English, and starting the eight grade and learning the English language was a huge challenge. He hated it. Watching television shows like “Three’s Company” and “The Jeffersons” was Charlie’s saving grace. These shows helped him break the barrier to learn English, and also helped him understand American culture. At the age of 16th, he could no longer deal with his Father’s violent discipline style. Charlie was lucky to land a job at a drycleaners and parted ways with him. He found himself on his own again, and he soon dropped out of high school so he could work full time hours and earn bigger wages. He attended San Ysidro and Montgomery Adult Schools until he graduated. He was nineteen years old, still working at the same drycleaners, and with an undocumented status. That same year, the drycleaners business was raided by undercover U.S. Customs Agents. Charlie was arrested and taken into immigration custody. During the booking process, Charlie spoke fluent English and understood every word spoken by the U.S. Customs Agents. Even the racist, discriminatory, and unnecessary comments spat out at him.Even with the threat of jail time, Charlie refused to sign a deportation order. He was not going to leave the United States of America. Right there and then, the agents summoned the immigration Judge for an immediate hearing.The Judge obliged, and the case was scheduled for one o’clock in the afternoon that same day. Charlie was sent to a holding cell with a hamburger, fries, and a soda.Keeping with the schedule, Charlie was escorted to the court room a couple of minutes before one. The judge quickly appeared adjusting his robe as he wiped his mouth and chin with a serviette.Charlie made his case that he spoke English, had attained a high school diploma, had maintained a job, and he had no criminal record.Right on the spot, the Judge issued him a work permit, and he was free to go.With a work permit in hand, Charlie walked straight into a U.S. Army recruiting station and enlisted as an Infantry soldier.Charlie enlisted into the Army for many reasons. He was tired of working at the drycleaners, and it was his chance to see the world. He also had an unquestionable admiration of the Infantry soldier, but the number one reason, he wanted to prove to everyone he was an American. There was no other way, or better method, to prove his patriotism to the United States than joining the Army. At the age of nineteen, he departed San Diego and found himself in basic training at the home of the Infantry in Ft. Benning, Georgia. He was then stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky with the 101st Airborne and Air Assault Division. There he graduated from Air Assault School, and he later completed the Jungle Warfare Academy training in Ft. Sherman, Panama. That same year, he deployed to Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm.With the exception of cold weather training, Charlie was loving the Army life.After his enlistment, Charlie qualified for a scholarship from the ROTC.He loved the training, and the camaraderie. While the life of a cadet was very demanding, it was also a lot of fun for him.Charlie learned quickly and excelled. During his senior year, he attained the rank of Aztec Cadet Commander and finished first in his class.He received his commission at the age of 27 as a Military Police officer, and he deployed to Hungary as a Platoon Leader the following year. His platoon’s job was to provide security throughout the Main Supply Routes in to the combat theater of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Charlie’s biggest fear was always that of a serious injury, or loss of life, to any member of his platoon. After nearly a year, the combat missions ended without serious incident.After ten years of combined Army service, Charlie had a decision to make. He either continued in the Army until he completed a combined twenty years of service and retired, or he returned home to start life as a civilian.He chose to end his Army career and return to San Diego. It was the right decision for him. His civilian life allowed him to relax and enjoy a life of leisure. There were no more uniforms, weapons, combat missions, and no more cold weather training.Charlie started his career as a Deputy Sheriff for the County of San Diego in 2007. It was during the execution of his duties as a Deputy that he learned U.S. Veterans were being deported. One day, as Charlie escorted an inmate through the corridors of the George Bailey Detention Facility, the inmate stated, “I am a Veteran, and I have an immigration hold.” To which Charlie responded, “You are lying to me. Veterans do not have immigration holds.” Charlie was sure this episode was a farce. As weeks passed, the same episode arose again with a different inmate, and this time Charlie investigated the matter further. He soon found out that indeed some U.S. Veterans had immigration holds and were being deported. He was in shock. Soon after Charlie confirmed U.S. Veterans were being deported, he spent many of his free days walking the rough neighborhoods of Tijuana searching for deported U.S. Veterans in shelters and out on the streets among the homeless.In 2014, he finally located Hector Barajas, a deported U.S. Army Veteran, living in a one room living space with no shower. Charlie then reached out to a friend who owned several rental properties in Tijuana.Charlie secured a location for Hector Barajas, and together, they founded this new location for the Deported Veterans Support House (The Bunker).In 2015, to help U.S. Military Veterans with the struggles of deportation, Charlie established the help center "Deported Veterans of America.“ You can view his work at, www.deportedveteransofamerica.com . Charlie authored the books "Fate of a Deported Veteran" and "Fe Americana." The books portray the real life struggles of deported Veterans through the life of a fictional character.​He provided extensive research and a rough draft for the bill in the House of Representatives 5695 Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2016, and the bill 1405 Veterans Visa and Protection Act of 2017. These two bills were introduced to the House Floor by Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (R-AZ). The bills permit eligible deported veterans to permanently return to the United States as Lawful Permanent Residents eligible for naturalization. ​He is pro-immigration reform, and he seeks an immediate end to the deportations of U.S. Soldiers, U.S. Veterans, and their families.The “Mercado for Congress” campaign was born in 2016. Charlie’s strong work ethic allowed him to be competitive, and he missed the 2017 primary by less than 3000 votes. Up to that point, Representatives, Senators, and the Department of Veterans Affairs showed no interest in Charlie’s fight against the deportation of U.S. Soldiers, U.S. Veterans, and their families. The highlight of the campaign was that Charlie funded his own campaign. A fact he is extremely proud to hold as a badge of honor. For the 2018 election, he will only accept donations from private citizens, as he is fully against dark money from corporate entities and Political Action Committees (PAC). Charlie is extremely passionate about solving our nation’s immigration debacle. He is the first immigrant to run for Congress while openly recognizing he entered the United States of America as an “undocumented” immigrant. Charlie’s campaign is currently active for the 2018 election, and you can see his body of work at,www.Facebook.com/juancarlosmercado (Charlie),www.Facebook.com/deportedveteransofamerica.com ,www.Facebook.com/fateofadeportedveteran.com ,www.Facebook.com/feamericana.com, and atwww.deportedveteransofamerica.com . ​Charlie is a strong advocate of reading and writing, and an active participant and promoter of the non-profit organization "Latino Literacy Now."With the power of education, our multi-cultural community is stronger.​​Muchas Gracias, Salamat Po, Danke Schön, and Thank You,